Self-adjusting brake for hoists.



EATENTED OCT. l, 1907.

P. J. DARLINGTN. SELF ADJUSTING BRAKE POR HUISTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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Nm8615133; A

P. J. DARLINGTQN.

SELF A'DJUSTING BRAKE POR HOISTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY l1, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Uivrrsn srsrlsra'rssr erstes.'

. PHILIP J. DARLINGTON, OF GLEN-RIDGE, NEW JERSEY., ASSIGNOR TO SPRAGUE ELECTRIC COMPANY, A `CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SELF--ADJU'STING BRAKE FOR -HOISTS.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP J. DARLINGTON, a citizen v of lthe United States", and a resident of Glenridge, county of Essex, and Stateof New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self- Adjusting Brakes for Hoists, the princi les of which are set forth in the following specification. and accompanying drawings, which disclose the form ofthe invention which I now consider to be the best of the various forms in which the principles of the invention may be embodied.

The invention relatesl to hoisting apparatus combined with a self-adjusting brake, and more particularly to electrically-operated hoisting apparatus combined with such brakes; and certain features of the brake are of such character that they may be applied t0 other uses, although as herein' shown, the brake is especially designed lin combination with electricallyoperated hoisting apparatus. I

In hoisting apparatus, and especially in high-etliciepcy hoists, serious difficulty has hitherto `resulted ing effect. This increased, abnormal movement is utilized to remedy thedefe'ct which caused it.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 isa perspective view showing the combination oi an electrically-operated -hoist and a self-adjusting brake; Fig. 2 is a face view,

partly in" section, of the upper parts of the brake arms g Fig. 3 is a detail view ofv the outer end of the upper part of the left-hand brake arm A; Eig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, oi the upper part oi the righthand brake arm Bpand its attachments; andFig. 5

' shows my invention applied to a different form otre,`

leasing mechanism.

.The arms A and B are pivotally suspended from the rod C, which is hung on the hook l in the hoisting- 'drumcasing X. The rod C carries the `entire brake. `The openings (Fig. 2) in the ,upper ends of the arms A shown; A spring Q drawsthe lower ends of the brake arms A and B toward Ieach other to apply the shoes S to'the wheel W. The arms A and B, and the spring Qor'its equivalent, may be arranged in other ways than the one shown, to effect substantially thesame Specification of Letters Patent. Application iled May l1, 1904. Serial No. 207,3 '72. .A

Patented Oct. l, 1907.

result. The arms A and B may be pivoted at parts of their length other than herein shown. The shaft Koi' the controller fo'r the motor M extends between the arms A and B but is out 0i engagement therewith when the brake is applied, as shown in Fig. l. Connections 2 and 3 enable the shaft K. tobe rotated by an individual standing below. When the connection 3 is pulled to rotate the shat K clockwise topclose the circuit of.l the motor M, the end of the shaft K, being wider vertically than horizontally, (in the position shown) forces the lower ends of the arms A and B furtheir apart, and releases the brake, When the connection 2 is pulled, to cut off current from the motor M, the shaft K points itsshorter diameter at the brake arms A and B, and permits the brake tobe applied by the spring Q. Other means thanthe shalt K, but yet caused to be made operative by the motor-controller, may located between the arms A and B, to release the brake when the motor is stopped.

As the shoes S wear, the lower end s of the arms A and B will approach. closer and closer to theends of the shorter diameter ol the shaft K. and to each other, before the operative application ofthe shoes S to the wheel Wv As the brake-applying, force, that is the spring Q, is substantially constant for a. givenextent oi movement ci .the brake arms A. and B, the brake will be less effectively applied as the shoes S wear.- If no adjustment were made for this wear, the arms A and B would eventually be drawn together against the smaller diameter oi the shalt K, or its equivalcnhhaving then no braking effect on thewheel W:

The arms A and B may be adjusted at will,\`to compensate for wear and avoid Contact with the shaft K, by screwing up the rod C, the left-hand end o which is threaded (Fig. 2) and engages in anni; 4 held from rotation between two lugs 5 on the arm A (Figs, 2 and 3). In practice, dependence upon manual adjust meut by this means is found to be not only unsatisfactory, but dangerous. The brake and adjust-ing means are difficult oi access, and usually 110 attention is given to the adjustment until the lead slips or actually drops. Furthermore great care is required to effect the proper adjustment. In this type oi high efliciency hoist, wherein the shoes S wear rapidly, frequent laborious attention to the adjustment is absolutely necessary, if accidents are to be prevented. To remedy this defect, means are provided, in accordance with this invention, lor automatically effecting in, the end oi the lever 8, and reciprocates through lugs 11 and 12 on the arm B (Fig. Il). The upper end of the pawl l engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 15, sleeved on and adapted to rotate the threaded rod G. A spring 16 is arranged to pull the pawl 10 toward the ratchet 15.

The pawi l() rises each time the shait K forces the arms A and B apart, and falls each time the arms are drawn together by the spring Q. The` parts are arranged so that when the shoes S have not Worn, these movements oi the pawl will not rotate the ratchet 15, as the total entent of movement oi the pawl is'less than the distance between .the ratchet teeth. But as the shoes S Wear, and the lowel` ends oi the arins A and B consequently approach closer to each other,

and to the smaller diameter oi the shaft K, the rotation oi the shaft K which permits the arms A and B to be moved against the Wheel W, will canse the pawl 10 to be moved lower down, Finally, when the shoes S have worn suiilciently to threaten the operative application oi the brake by the spring Q, the pawl l() will be moved downwardly sufficiently far to draw its upper-end from the tooth which it has been en gaging. The spring i6 immediately draws that end` under said tooth and against the next lower tooth. The next time the shaft K is turned to force apart the arms A and i3, the pawl l() Will turn the ratchet wheel 15. 'ihis results in drawing and holding closer together, the upper ends or pivots of the arms A and B.

Consequently the lower ends oi those arms will then i l l l l l l What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,

1. The combination with an electric motor. a controller for said motor and a brake, both constructed aud arranged to coiipcrate to release the brake when the controller is moved from its olf position, und to apply the brake when the controller' is moved to its off position, and menus constructed and arranged to be made operative by :in ln creased, abnormal range of movement of thc brake to and from its effective breaking position, due to wear, to maintain the effective operation of the brake substantially constant. y

'lle combination, of an elecrric motor, for the motor, a brake, means for normally applying, the brake, means operated byv the power application ot' the controller to release the brake, means for odjustins,r for a controller the wear ot the brake. and means controlled by an inv to be made operative by :in incrca.

be required to be moved a less distance'toward cach' other to effect an operative application oithe brake. Hence, the operative effect, oi the spring vQ is maintained substantially constant at all times.

The combination of the controller and brake'and automatic adjusting means7 is not limited to the mechanical controllcrrclcasing operation heretofore disclosed. Thus in Fig. 5, l have shown my invention applied to a 1nagnoticallyaiperated releasing mechanism. In Fig. 5 the arms A and il are pivotcd at points a and b intermediate their length, and the releasing mechanism consists of a magnet coil M and two movable magnet cores m m, which are secured to the ends oi arms A and B, opposite to the spring Q. The magnet winding M may be connected in series with the motor 4or otherwise,`in such manner that it is encrgized when the motor-circuit is closed. The magnet cores m m are drawn inwards when magnet winding M is energized, and thereby release the brakes. In this arrangement, it. is important that the space between the cores m m should remain practically constant, as otherwise thepuli exerted by the cores would vary, as the brake shoes wear down. By my invention, this constant distance may be properly maintained. Thus, the ratchet wheel 15 carries a screwthread 17|. by. means of which one of the magnetvcores m may be advanced as the brake shoes' wear down. The 'pawl 10 and itsconnections to the, brake bars A and B are the same as'have been already described.

The-arrangement not only 0f the brake and of the releasing mechanism, but of the automatic adjusting means, may be varied without departing from the spirit oi my invention, and l aim to cover in the appended claims all such modifications which come within the scope of'the present invention.

creased, abnormal rance of movement of the brake to and from its effective braking,r position, duc to wear, to operaie said adjusting` means.

il, ihe combination with a dcviceto be brakcd. of a brake therefor. means for automatically applying the brake nnncdiateiy upon the discoi nuance oi' the applica tion of power thereto, and means construcimi and arranged d, abnormal ronge of movement of the brake to and from its effective braking position, due to wear, to maintain the effective operation of the brake. v

4. The combination with brake therefor, n springr arranged i'o normally apply the brake, and means constructed and arrnnced to be made operative by n n increased, abnormal range of movement. of the brake io and from its effective braking position, duc to wear, to maintain the effective operation oi' thc spring.

'lhe combination with :i device to hc brnkcd. of an adjustable.. pivoted brake therefor, and means constructed and arranged t'o transmit'. :in increased range oi' pivotal movement of the brake, to adjust thc pivot of the brake.

(i. 'i`he combination with a device to bc braked. of a brake therefor, means for adjusting the hrahe, aud means constructed and arranged to be operated by an abnormal range of movement of the broke, to operate lsaid adjusting means.

T. 'ihc combination with an clcctric motor to bc brukcd, of two :id iustably pivotcd arms having braking surfaces, a controller for the electric motor..tlic shui'l et' which controller cxlends between said arms and is constructed and arranged to t'orcc said arms apart when the con ti'olier is moved `iroin itsv oil' position, and means coustructcd :1nd arranged to be made operative by an ncreased. abnormal range of movement of the arms to and from the nonrclcasin; r position of the controller shaft, to adjust closer together the pivots of the arms.

8.' 'ihe combination with u device tobc brnkcd. of two adjustnbiy pivoted arms arranged to bcar on opposite sides or said device to be brakcd, means for causing the operation of the device to he braked-u releasingV device located between said arms and adapted vto be made opera tive by said lest-named means to force the armsl from the device to be braked, and means constructed and arranged to be made operative by an increased, abnormal range oi movement of the arms to and from 'the device to he hrakeil, to adjust closer together the pivots of the arms.

Si. The combination with u. devies to be lnx-aired, of two ndjustabiy pivoted braking arms arranged to bear on opposite sides of said device to be braked, 'alreicasing device located between said arms, means for forcing the arms against the device to be bruked, and means constructed and arranged to he made operative by an increased, abnormal range of movement of the arms to and from the nen-releasing position of said releasing device, to adjust closer together the pivots of the arms.

tion from said lever, said connection being constructed l n device to be' brnkcd, of a'4 'senese 3 and arranged to draw the pivots of the arms closer together, when the arms have an increased, abnormal range of pivotal movement, diie to wear.

11. The combination with a device to be braked, of two braking arms arranged to bear against said device to be braked, a threaded rod on which the braking arms are pivotally mounted, a. stationary nut engaged by said rod, a spring arranged to pivotally move the arms together, and means constructed and arranged to be made operative by an increased, abnormal range of movement of the arms, to operate the threaded rod to draw-together the pivots of the arms. b I.

12. The combination with 'a device to be braked, of two adjustahly pivotcd braking arms arranged to bear against `l5 said device to be braked, means for adjusting the pivots of the arms,l means continuously exerting a force normally snicient to force said arms toward each other on said pivots with an operative pressure against the device to be hraked, and means constructed and arranged to be 2Q operated by an increased, abnormal range of movement Av loi'r the arms, due to weer, to operate said adjnsting means tdhold the pivots closer together.

13. TheV combination with a member to he braked, of two hrlingmemhers constructed and arranged to be movable tord each other against a .device to be braked, means foipoperatively applying the braking members against the device to be bralred, and means constructed and arranged to be made operative by an increased range of movement oi' the brakingr members, doe to Wear, to" maintain the operative braking effect of said applying means.

14. In combination. an electric motor, a brake, means for releasing `said brake when said motor is energized, and automatic means operative upon a relative displacement of the parts of said brake, due to 4wear, to restore said parts to their normal relative positions.

15. In combination `with a device to be brakcd, of two -pivoted breaking arms arranged to bear against said device to he braked, a link mechanism carried by 'said arms, `and adjusting means arranged to be operated by said mechanism when 'said arms are relatively displaced due to wear. 16. In combination with a device to begbraked, of two pi'voted braking arms arranged to bear against said device to be braked, a link Apivoted to vone jarln, 'a lever p'ivotcd tothe other arm and connected to said link,`and adjusting means arranged to be operated by said lever when said arms are relatively displaced due to wear.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of li'lay, 1904.

' ITHILII .T.DARLINGTON. Witnesses: f

BENJAMIN B. linnn, 'I-InLnN Onnonn. 

